20 Killed By Weather, Whale Sinks Boat, Lightning Sparks Church Fire: NJ Weekend

At least 20 people have died in weather-related incidents in New Jersey during the July 4th weekend, and three were injured in a shooting. Here’s a selection of headlines from across the state you may have missed:

19 Suspected Heat-Related Deaths Reported

At least 19 people have died from suspected heat-related causes since Thursday, state officials said Saturday, according to a report. Most deaths occurred in central and northern NJ, involving people found in homes without air conditioning.

Health Commissioner Raynard E. Washington said the victims' age ranges extended beyond the elderly to younger adults as well. A few people were also found outside their homes, including on the street or in parked cars, NJ.com reported.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill and her department heads held the briefing Saturday afternoon, following an intense Friday night thunderstorm that downed trees and power lines, triggering widespread outages during the ongoing heatwave.

Scotch Plains Reports One Storm-Related Death Amid Power Outages

Township officials confirmed one fatality following a powerful overnight storm that left hundreds without power across Scotch Plains and neighboring towns.

Mayor Joshua Losardo confirmed the death in a statement Saturday, calling the storm "brief but incredibly powerful" and extending condolences to the victim's family.

"We have received confirmation of one fatality, and on behalf of the Township, I extend our deepest condolences to the family who has suffered this heartbreaking loss," Losardo said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this unimaginably difficult time."

Losardo said many residents remain without power and acknowledged their frustration, adding that all available township resources have been deployed. Police, Fire, EMS, the Rescue Squad, and the Department of Public Works have been working continuously since the storm hit, he said.

The mayor said the damage is extensive, with more than 200 broken utility poles and widespread downed trees, particularly on the south side of Scotch Plains, where dense tree damage has complicated restoration efforts. Some repairs require as many as 10 crews at a single site, Losardo said, while others will restore power to only a handful of homes.

Lightning Strike Sparks Roof Fire At Church

A fire that damaged the roof of the Worship Center at Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford was sparked by a lightning strike, authorities confirmed Saturday.

Nearly 400 firefighters and 70 pieces of equipment including ladder trucks and tankers battled the fire, officials of Fellowship Alliance Chapel said.

Read More Here: Lightning Strike Sparks Roof Fire At Medford Church, Authorities Say

Breaching Whale Sinks Fire Boat In Raritan Bay

A whale breached underneath a Carteret Fire Department boat in Raritan Bay Saturday and sank the boat, Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman said.

It happened about 4:30 p.m. July 4 as the Carteret Fire Department boat was in the bay conducting a "special operation marine security detail," Reiman said. That's when a whale suddenly and violently breached (came up for air) directly underneath the boat.

Read More Here: Breaching Whale Sinks Fire Boat In Raritan Bay

3 Injured In 4th Of July Shooting

Three people were injured in a shooting Saturday night in Passaic, News 12 New Jersey reported, citing authorities.

According to the report, police responded around 8:30 p.m. on July 4 to the area of Essex Street and Third Street following reports of a shooting with multiple victims.

The victims — a 22-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man, all Passaic residents — were taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson. Their conditions have not been released.

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